Immunity, outside the immune system

Seth Barribeau

LIFE709

sethb@liv.ac.uk

Parasites/pathogens are everywhere

What is a parasite?

But, what is a parasite?

Takes resources at its host expense

Causes damage

But, what is a parasite?

Immune manipulation and evasion

Nausea, vomiting

Constipation

Tenderness

Indigestion & Heartburn

Depression

Anxiety

Fatigue

Bloating

Weight gain

Scarring

Insomnia

Frequent urination

Diabetes

But, what is a parasite?

What is the immune system?

Schmid-Hempel (2011)

What is the immune system?

Schmid-Hempel (2011)

Immune systems evolve fast

At least, parts of them

Barribeau et al. (2015)

Is that all there is to immunity?

Nope

Doublet et al. (2017)

Schmid-Hempel (2011)

Questions

If involved in immunity, are these ‘non-immune’ defenses also coevolving with parasites?

How can we tell if they’re adaptive?

Is there variation in these traits and if so, how is it maintained?

Extended immune systems evolve fast

At least, parts of them